The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant, Junior Grade [then Ensign] Kenneth John Dahms, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Fighter Plane in Fighting Squadron THIRTY (VF-30), during action against enemy Japanese forces at Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, on 6 April 1945. Flying target combat air patrol, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Dahms pressed home determined attacks against hostile aircraft and, in a single engagement, destroyed two enemy fighters and three enemy dive bombers and assisted in the destruction of another fighter. By his superb airmanship, he assisted materially in breaking up a large-scale enemy air attack on units of our Fleet engaged in landing operations on Okinawa. His courage and devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Dahms and the United States Naval Service.